2009 Spring Football Report #1
3/20/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
WEEK ONE: With just three days under their belts so far, The University of Montana Grizzlies, about 90 strong, will hit the practice field today (Friday, March 20th) for their fourth day of work.
FIRST DAY OF CONTACT: Yesterday, Thursday, March 19th, was the first day for contact in spring drills and the hitting was intense. The players not only had spirited contact drills, but they also ran through seven-on-seven and 11-on-11 drills, with the No. 1 offense matching up against the. No. 1 defense, and there was some hard hitting on both sides of the football.
The offense registered several big scoring plays: senior wide receiver Marc Mariani scored on a long post pattern on a pass from junior quarterback Jeff Larson; senior tight end Steve Pfahler hauled in a long bomb along the left sideline for a touchdown on a pass by junior QB Andrew Selle; junior running back Chase Reynolds broke free on a run off left tackle for a huge gain; and senior halfback Thomas Brooks-Fletcher broke loose for a 55-yard scoring run on a third-and-three play.
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"Things went really well on Thursday ??? our enthusiasm level was high," said Griz Head Coach Bobby Hauck, who begins his seventh campaign with an impressive record of 66-16 (.805). "The one concern I had was that the defense gave up too many big plays. On the flip-side, though, is of course is that the offense is making those big plays."
THREE NEW WALK-ONS: Three new players were on the practice field Thursday. About nine or 10 walk-ons joined the team this spring, with the most recent additions being quarterback Zach McRae, defensive back Jacob Pelczar, and strong safety Kirk Stoll.
McRae is a 6-0, 200-pound sophomore quarterback from Dillon, who led Beaverhead County High School to a state football title . He recently played junior college football and baseball at Reedley College (Calif.) before returning to his home state.
Pelczar is a 5-10, 180-pound defensive back from Billings Central, where he was also a standout at running back. His younger brother, Josh Pelczar, is a 5-9, 180-pound cornerback who signed with the Grizzlies this past February.
A 5-11, 180-pounder, Kirk Stoll???s older brother Erik is a junior strong safety at Montana. Erik should be Montana???s starter at strong safety this season, replacing All-American Colt Anderson, who graduated. Kirk played at Carroll College, but was hampered with injuries while there. An interesting note: Kirk Stoll is wearing the number 19, worn by Colt Anderson during his outstanding career at UM.
POSITION CHANGE(S): As mentioned prior to spring drills, which started March 16th, fullback Noah McWilliams has been moved to defensive tackle. McWilliams, 6-2, has beefed up to 252 pounds, and is a sophomore from Homer, Alaska.
Bryan Waldhauser, a sophomore 6-4, 242-pound defensive end from Huntley Project, is also playing some a defensive tackle.
Sophomore safety Cole Lockwood, a 6-0, 210???pounder from local Sentinel High School, is now playing linebacker.
BACK IN ACTION: A couple of players who have battled injuries the last year or two, Nick Lebsock and Kevin Corwin, are practicing.
Lebsock, a 6-1, 222-pound junior fullback and lettermen, actually returned to practice late last season. Kevin Corwin, the younger brother of graduated Griz linebacker Tyler Corwin who was UM???s third leading tackler (104 TT) last season, returns after a two year hiatus due to injury. Kevin is a 6-2, 215-pound junior, who is a sophomore eligibility-wise.
OUT THIS SPRING: Two prominent players unable to practice this spring, but expected back at 100 percent by fall camp are junior defensive tackle Carson Bender and senior defensive end George Mercer.
A 6-4, 280-pounder from Deer Lodge, Bender was injured at Weber State last year and missed the rest of the season. Mercer is a 6-3, 242-pounder from Libby who was injured in the playoffs last year.
BROTHERS: Montana has had its share of brothers on the team over the years and 2009 is no different.
Local products (Big Sky High School) Jace and Tyler Palmer, who play on opposite sides of the ball at defensive end and wide receiver, return for their senior seasons.
Chase Reynold???s younger brother, Tel Reynolds, is a 6-0, 190-pound redshirt freshman who is playing running back at Montana just like his older brother.
Nick Lebsock???s older sibling, Shawn Lebsock, is a returning senior starter at linebacker. Shawn was the Grizzlies fourth leading tackler (102 TT) a year ago.
EIGHT-MAN GUYS: Montana has three running backs who played eight-man football in high school: Chase and Tel Reynolds, and walk-on Caleb Gee, who played at Stanford High School.
RETURNING ALL-LEAGUERS: Montana returns four All-Big Sky Conference players who were first team or second team picks: senior receiver/returner Mariani, Chase Reynolds, senior offensive tackle Levi Horn, and senior free safety Shann Schillinger. Schillinger was the second leading tackler for the 14-2 Grizzlies of 2008 with 108, trailing only Anderson who had a team-high 129 stops.
The Grizzlies return nine players who earned all-league honorable mention: tackle Chris Dyk, guard Terran Hillesland, tight ends Dan Beaudin and Pfahler, and fullback Kevin Klaboe on offense; along with end Jace Palmer, linebackers Brandon Fisher and Shawn Lebsock, and cornerback Trumaine Johnson on defense.
HANGIN??? IT UP: As reported prior to spring drills, senior linebacker Tyler Pelluer, a two-year letterman from Sammamish, Wash., is staying in school, but decided not to play this season. Junior defensive tackle Justin Townsend, a one-year letterman and walk-on from Dublin, Calif., will also remain in school but not play football.
SPRING SCRIMMAGES: The Grizzlies first scrimmage this spring is next Friday, March 27th, starting around 3:30 p.m. in Washington-Grizzly Stadium. The next scrimmage is Friday, April 10th and it also starts at approximately 3:30 p.m. Montana???s Spring Game is Saturday, April 18th in Corvallis.
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